Management of Invasives Species in Waterbird Habitat in Lake Naivasha, Kenya : Report on the Restoration of Wetlands that are Migratory Bird Habitats, and that have been damaged by Invasive Weeds.

This study was carried by IUCN-EARP and the LNRA as a joint project on Lake Naivasha, within the framework of the AEWA sub-project on the management of alien invasive weeds for the benefit of migratory waterfowl habitat. The sub project focused on the Lake Naivasha Ramsar Site in Kenya (see figure1), a wetland complex consisting of one main lake, several subsidiary lakes and surrounding wetlands as well as a floodplain and delta of the inflowing Malewa and Gilgil Rivers. This wetland array has a well-known and diverse avian fauna and is an Important Bird Area (Bennun L. & Njoroge P., 1992). The complex is an important site for afro-tropical and palaearctic migrant bird species, but the same site has been affected by invasive waterweeds over the last decades, most of which have been managed in some way by the agency most responsible for the Ramsar site - The Lake Naivasha Riparian Association (LNRA, formerly LNROA). The purpose of the study was to document the current and historical status of invasive aquatic weeds, their management interventions, and their actual or perceived impacts on waterfowl. It also included considerations of local views of the changes that have taken place over the years and which were brought about by invasive aquatic weeds. The specific objectives of the study were to: (1) Assess the present distribution and density of invasive water plants in the Lake Naivasha Ramsar Site - especially water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water fern (Salvinia molesta). (2) Document historical incidences of aquatic weeds around the lake, their perceived impacts on lake ecology and an account of the management interventions and successes. (3) Document any actual or perceived impacts of the aquatic weeds on the resident and migratory water birds.

A Case Study of the Attempts to Manage Invasive Weeds in the Lake Naivasha Ramsar Site and Links to Migratory Waterfowl.

Published